Also back from hiatus will be daily cooking demonstrations.
Brad Campbell, executive director of Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Western Massachusetts that presents the annual Original Western Massachusetts Home and Garden Show that opens March 21 on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield.
The Original Western Mass. Home & Garden Show is back at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield from March 21 through 24.
For 59 years, the show has attracted hundreds of vendors and visitors and has evolved in its appeal.
"With the Internet, we've got the ability to find and research the products that we want to use in our homes or to change our lives. We're now finding that consumers are going to home shows so they can find the experts in the industry who know how to make those products work within our living environments," said Brad Campbell, executive director of the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Western Massachusetts, which produces the show.
This year, more than 350 vendors of home and garden products and services including builders, remodelers, kitchen and bath specialists, will be available for consumers and their questions.
"Normally we see about 17,000 attendees come through the doors over the four days. We're expecting the same this year and maybe a little bit more because the economy is a little bit brighter," Campbell said.
Vendors also will be on hand to help educate consumers on ways to cut down on energy costs, qualify for tax and energy credits, and make their homes more energy efficient.
"One of the things people will see a lot more of at the show this year are energy-conscious products. We have eight or nine vendors just in solar. That's a big change from even last year when we had only two or three. It's certainly has become much bigger than it ever has been for us," Campbell said.
Green builders, energy audit companies, HVAC companies with energy heating systems, and appliance companies will show their latest technology in ENERGY STAR appliances.
A key attraction at this year's show will be the return of a fully furnished and landscaped modular home display in the outdoor area courtesy of Chicopee's Elite Modular Homes. Attendees will be able to tour the home and view a solar display in action furnished by Transformations, Inc.
"The house is a pretty nice little Cape, about 1,500 square feet. The first floor will be fully decorated and operational. We'll also have a handicap-accessible ramp going into the building and a deck on the back that looks out onto backyard features like a gazebo, a swing set and probably an above ground pool or a hot tub, Campbell said.
"It'll be a nicely arranged modular home for people to see."
Also back from hiatus will be daily cooking demonstrations in the Young Building. Lead by Nadim Kashouh of Nadim's Mediterranean Grill, a team of Pioneer Valley chefs will create their signature dishes for attendees to sample.
"We're excited to have the cooking component back for this year's show," said Campbell, noting one of the things he sees happening with other home shows across the country is the trend of evolving into more of a lifestyle show.
"It's not just about the home and it's not just about the garden anymore. It's about the way we live our lives and the products that we put in our lives," Campbell said.
Special show promotions and giveaways will include a door attendance prize, Boston Red Sox Tickets from WEEI, a "Hot Tub Prize Machine" from WMAS with a chance to win up to $10,000 in prizes, and raffles for a NASCAR Getaway Package and Mini Getaway to Smugglers Notch, VT.
The Home Builders & Remodeler Association of Western Mass will once again raise funds and awareness for the Homes for our Troops program at the show.
"We had a very successful campaign for the home that we built last year. This year we're raising money for another build that will be done in Rhode Island for a young man who is a double amputee. It's an important charity for us, for sure," Campbell said.
Last year, the association and its members completed a specially designed home in Granby for Sgt. Joshua Bouchard, a Marine who was seriously wounded while serving in Afghanistan in 2009.
"We will have a booth at the show and people who make a contribution will be able to sign the building materials that will go into the construction of the new home so it will be full of neat little messages for this young man about his contribution for our freedoms," Campbell said.
The Home Builders & Remodeler Association of Western Mass will kick off the show with a special grand opening on Thursday night to honor veterans. All active military and veterans will be admitted to the show on Thursday free of charge with proper ID.
Regular admission price is $10. A special discount coupon on Page F5 and on www.westernmass homeshow.com will save attendees $7 on the regular admission price on Thursday, $5 on Friday and $3 on Saturday and Sunday.
Children under 12 are free.
The Original Western Mass. Home & Garden Show is March 21 from 2 to 9 p.m., March 22, 1 to 9 p.m., March 23, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and March 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, visit www.westernmasshome show.com/